By ANTHONY BOTTAN
along a 2,000-foot stretch of Sunrise between Ocean and Denton avenues to combat what railroad officials call "slip-slide" conditions. The tree removal program began the week of October 8.
According to a press release from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the condition results from reduced adhesion of a train's wheels to the rail when brakes are applied. A slippery substance called pectin is created when the wheels crush fallen or scattered leaves, and the MTA likened the result to a car's wheels skidding on an icy road.
"My goal is to ensure that customers have a safe and reliable ride on the LIRR," railroad President Helena Williams said. "This comprehensive program we are launching to combat 'slip-slide' is designed to improve both safety and reliability during the fall leaf season."
LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto said that tree branches overhanging the tracks had also become tangled in signal and communication lines, and if not removed, they would negatively impact LIRR service.
Bob Brennan, the railroad's director of government and community affairs, said the LIRR had distributed fliers to residents in late July and again in September, explaining the tree removal program and why it needed to be done by the end of October.
Allison Pierce, a Lynbrook resident who lives two blocks south of Sunrise Highway, said she is most concerned about the safety of neighborhood children now that the natural tree barrier along the tracks is gone. "I think that before they did a devastating clearing, they should have thought this through," Pierce said.
To counter the effects of the tree removal, the LIRR installed a security fence to keep pedestrians from climbing onto the tracks. According to Phil Healey, superintendent of Lynbrook's Department of Public Works, there have been four fatalities involving children on the tracks in the past 20 years.
The LIRR's September flier read, "Please note that the LIRR is employing the services of licensed and insured tree service professionals to carry out this program of trimming and/or removal of trees along our property. This may include removal of some branches overhanging the right-of-way from trees located on private property. We need to complete this work by the end of October." The flier also stated that the LIRR would discuss replacing the trees, at the railroad's expense, with "track-friendly trees" such as evergreens.
Trustee David Penso, the village's MTA liaison, said that Mayor Brian Curran, Deputy Mayor Bill Hendrick, Trustee Alan Beach and Healey held several meetings with Brennan, and were aware that the LIRR would be removing all vegetation. Penso said he was surprised that the group did not mention the LIRR's plan at any board meetings, which, he said, would have helped gauge residents' support for possible action against it. Nonetheless, Penso said, he was opposed to the complete removal of all trees along the track.
"I understand the aspect of trees overhanging the tracks, but to take out every piece of vegetation is unconscionable," Penso said. "If they burned everything, there would probably be more left. It is really horrible."
Penso also said he had hoped the village would apply for a temporary restraining order to halt the LIRR's work, and e-mailed the idea to board members, but never received any responses.
Curran said that during several meetings with MTA officials, they explained that the railroad was authorized to remove all brush from its right-of-way because of the safety hazard it posed. Curran said the board did not want all the trees removed, but was able to delay the cutting program for only six weeks.
The mayor added that he was also concerned with the north side of the tracks, where there are homes within 50 feet. "We had an understanding with LIRR that they would scale back the project on the north side of the tracks in residential areas, and to this date, they have kept their word," Curran said. According to Curran, Lynbrook is looking into re-beautifying the village's property in that area.
Elmont Street resident Jerry LaForgia complained that the LIRR doesn't care about the environment, and has now completely changed the aesthetic look of the village. "It has the look of devastation," LaForgia said. "Now all we see is cars on Sunrise Highway. They took the laziest and cheapest route."
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